Use a Photo to Write a List Poem

Find a photo and take some time to look at it really carefully. I’ve chosen this picture of Tulip sitting on a fence.

To start my poem, first I’m going to gather words and phrases – just things I notice in the photo – and write them down. I’m not thinking about the poem I want to write just yet. Just getting ideas down.

I’ve circled some of the things I think I might use to start my list poem…

…and here is my poem. It’s not finished yet, it’s what we call a ‘first draft’ and you can see I’ve already made some changes by crossing things out and adding things in. I need to give it a title too. Maybe Cat on a Fence?

Marmalade Cat on a Fence

I'm looking up at

a stripey cat sitting

on our fence

she's staring at something

her tail is twitching –

can she see what I see?

I see bare branches of trees.

It's spring and it's sunny.

I can see other trees

bright green with new leaves

clouds and bright blue sky

over the roof of 

our neighbour's house –

and a stripey cat

sitting on our fence.

PS - It’s not actually my cat or fence or neighbour’s house - the photo was sent to me by Tulip’s owner! The great thing about being a writer is you can make things up and no one will tell you you are fibbing!